Self-Administration Practices and Errors in Epilepsy Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract Background: Medication errors significantly burden healthcare systems, with 6-7% of hospital errors attributed to them. Two-thirds of these errors are preventable. However, there is a lack of Indian studies assessing the magnitude of self-administration errors in epilepsy patients. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of self-administration errors in epilepsy patients, the incidence of adverse events due to these errors, and the association between the duration of epilepsy treatment and recall of medication errors. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over one year. Methods: Sixty-five epilepsy patients visiting the neurology outpatient department (OPD) were interviewed regarding self-administration errors, duration of treatment, antiseizure medication details, and adverse events due to self-administration errors. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The study found a high prevalence of self-administration errors (67%) and adverse events (63%). There was a strong relationship between adverse events and recall (Log odds=0.97, P-value=0.005), as well as between reporting to physicians and adverse events (Log odds=1.25, P-value=0.007). The recall of errors increased proportionately with the duration of therapy (Log odds=2.00, P-value=0.001). Conclusion: The study highlights the high prevalence of self-administration errors and related adverse events in epilepsy patients. A shorter regimen and a good reporting system could help mitigate these issues.